MU medical researchers accused of plagiarism

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — The University of Missouri has been investigating claims that two researchers from its medical school plagiarized a journal article that has since been retracted.

The American Journal of the Medical Sciences retracted the February 2012 article last week after determining two authors from the university’s medical school, fourth-year postdoctoral student Amar Jadhav and clinical assistant cardiology professor Anand Chockalingam, “plagiarized significant aspects” of a 2006 article published in the journal Heart.

The University of Missouri researchers’ article was entitled “Ventricular Ectopic Beats: An Overview of Management Considerations” and also had a third author affiliated with a medical school in India. Neither of the University of Missouri co-authors replied to Associated Press requests for interviews.

University spokesman Christian Basi said officials there found out about the allegations July 2. He said the university assigned the investigation to an inquiry committee on Aug. 3 and the delay in starting the investigation was due to summer absences.

The Missouri researchers could face sanctions including termination if they’re found to have plagiarized.

G. Andri Ng, author of the 2006 article contacted the editor of Heart when he noticed the Missouri researchers’ work was similar to his. The Heart editor then informed British Medical Journal Group, which publishes Heart.

BMJ spokeswoman Caroline White said the articles were compared using plagiarism detection software and the result was a “very high percentage similarity rating.”

White said after an expert review of the two papers, the medical sciences journal agreed its article had plagiarized the Heart article. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences then issued its retraction.

Posted earlier:

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- Two University of Missouri heart researchers are accused of plagiarism after a medical journal retracted an article they co-wrote.

The Columbia Missourian reports ( http://bit.ly/NeY9jj ) that the American Journal of the Medical Sciences pulled the February 2012 article after determining that the authors "plagiarized significant aspects" of a 2006 article in the journal Heart.

The article was co-written by fourth-year postdoctoral student Amar Jadhav and clinical assistant cardiology professor Anand Chockalingam. Neither replied to multiple Associated Press requests for interviews. A third author is affiliated with a medical school in India.

A university spokesman says a campus committee is investigating the charge. The two researchers remain faculty members but could face sanctions including termination if they're found to have plagiarized.